Prayer-Soldier
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 Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:09 am Post subject: The Sixteenth Day of Advent |
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“Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel, that shall smite the brows of Moab, and the skulls of all the Shuthites, till Edom is dispossessed, and no fugitive is left in Seir. Israel shall do valiantly, and Jacob shall overcome his foes.” (Numbers 24:15-19)
In this prophecy, Israel is told that in generations to come, a star would herald a great monarch; one who would deliver Israel from all enemies. And so a star would shine brightly as a sign that a great king has been born. While some expected a king who would raise and command a great army to deliver Israel, what many did not understand is that their Savior was more powerful than any army and would overcome a foe which no army could hope to vanquish. The conquest of soldiers in this world is but temporary; the conquest of our Savior, though, is eternal; for He died in sacrifice for our sins and in three days rose again to conquer death; a conquest possible for no warrior, no army, only God.
When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, ”By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, ”I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was the baptism of John from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say “Of heavenly origin,” he will say to us, “Then why did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin,” we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, ”We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
What was told in prophecy, what others witnessed, still left some to question. What would we do if Jesus stood among us? Would we recognize the Son of God? Some did and sought merely to touch the hem of His garment for they believed through Him they may be healed; others, no matter what the sign, would question; and so as it was then, it is for many today.
Each must see and learn for themselves. For this reason, we cannot force faith upon another, for if they chose not to see, then, whatever is forced upon them is not faith. But if no one proclaims the good news, who will know where to look for the light?
The answer was before the chief priests and the elders, but they chose ignorance because of what they feared and what they did not want to see. One cannot learn of that which they deny and do not seek. Those who sought faith, Jesus taught. Those who denied what was before them, Jesus left to their ignorance. If we seek the light, we shall see it; if we turn from it, we will only find darkness. As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Savior, let us give thanks to God for the truth and the light.
May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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